LONDON – Britain's defense secretary has dismissed a whistleblower's warnings about the safety of the country's nuclear fleet.

Michael Fallon says a Defense Ministry investigation into claims by Able Seaman William McNeilly has found that they were either incorrect or the result of misunderstanding.

The 25-year-old submariner went absent without leave earlier this month after producing a report filled with allegations about safety and security problems with the Trident nuclear weapons program. He released the report on the WikiLeaks website.

Fallen said Thursday that McNeilly was taken into custody and confined for interviews in an unknown location.

McNeilly said he was an engineering technician who had been on patrol with a Trident submarine. He said security checks were rarely carried out on staff, and there were risks and leaks on board.